I ate lunch every day in 3rd grade next to Sarah Jane Tillman. I only remember 2 things about Sarah Jane Tillman : she ate paste during art class (yum!) and that she was my best friend.She was a bit portly for a 3rd grader so I suspect it had to do with the paste. It's a high calorie art supply unlike it's more modern cousin, the terribly bland glue stick. I was her best friend 'cause she said so. "What if I don't want to be" I asked. "Too bad. I said you are". I pondered this and shrugged. "Sure" I said "best friends forever" and we shook on it. I knew it wouldn't last though. I'm just not a paste guy.
I got a text today I was dreading but knew was coming. My friend Dane Burk died today. He was my friend. I found out around a year ago he had been diagnosed with a Glioblastoma. A brain tumor. As it turned out, a death sentence. So He lost his battle today and I'm so sad. He loved Jesus and was ready to go and for that I'm happy but feel at a loss as to what to pray, what to say. The world, is a little smaller today. I just thought you should know.
I first met Dane in the youth group in the late 80's. He dated my sister for like a week until he found out what me and my two brothers knew. Yikes. We started hanging out, Dane and me.At the church door every time it was open, doing some youth activity. That was nice and all but our best times were on the court. Basketball. Tennis. Racquetball. Rain or shine we were out there almost every day. For 2 years. 2 amazing years. He was my best friend. I loved being with him, challenging him, just goofing off. Movies, sleep overs, eating at Godfathers pizza. Singing with such passion the love songs to Jesus we used to sing as Bro. Jim led us. We never said it. I guess we never needed to. We were best friends.And I, am better because of it.
As I knew his time was coming to an end I thought back on so many good memories. I went back to our old church where at the end of an overgrown court stood nailed to a light pole, a backboard with no rim. No net, but laden down with the memory of epic struggle. And much laughter. I took a few imaginary jump shots then sat on a 5 gallon bucket. And cried. I drove from there to the tennis courts, to the racquetball courts. And cried. For 2 years I had such a full life. I had a friend.
Two years. Maybe closer to three. And then....poof. I left. Went to college. Made new best friends. Made choices. Made a career. Made a family. Made a life. And I never saw Dane again. Maybe I saw him once or twice for a few minutes when I came back home tho I don't remember that. Just seems like we mighta. But soon enough He left town too and our paths never crossed. I realized I hadn't seen Dane in maybe 32 years. 32 years? How is that possible? We were best friends. It made me sad but also amazed me how profoundly 2 years can shape a life, can have such impact. I consider it one of the best times of my life.
I don't know Danes wife. Or his kids. Well some what I do through Facebook. They seem so wonderful, a loving family dedicated to one another and to God. My heart aches for them. I was in church praying for them, for Dane on Sunday. Ok, well, I wasn't praying per se as much as my mind was wandering as it is want to do in church. On the video screen was a picture of a huge grape vine with gobs of grapes hanging down. The preachers speech was about abiding in the vine. Abide. All the fruit. It was just hanging there. I felt like God was speaking and saying this was Dane. He abided. And he produced. His wife and kids were just the tip of the iceberg. For months I've seen people posting prayers and stories and memories and I'm just seeing the fruit hanging down from the Dane branch, people he had touched, connected with, and helped make better people. People who love Jesus. I got chills. I felt like God said "That, is your sermon Mark. Go and do like wise" I hope I will.
For a time, Dane, you were my best friend and I am better for it. I know that you are in glory this very day and I rejoice with you. How great it must be. Thank you for living your life so well. You will be missed. You will not be forgotten. I love you brother, my friend.
